Dollar's Recent Decline Helps
U.S. Firms Get Leg Up Abroad

The weakening of the almighty dollar is rippling through financial statements of a host of American and European companies, boosting the bottom line for some while punishing others.

On a trade-weighted basis, the U.S. dollar is down about 13% against a basket of key foreign currencies since its recent peak in February 2002. But the dollar's descent has been especially steep against Europe's four-year-old currency, the euro. On foreign-exchange markets, the euro is up 32% against the dollar from its all-time low and up 15%...